Hatters appoint Gomez as first team coach

Mike Simmonds

Luton Town have appointed Derby County’s head of tactical analysis Joaquin Gomez as first team coach after agreeing with a compensation package with the Championship side.

The Spaniard worked with Hatters boss Nathan Jones at Brighton & Hove Albion, where the 30-year-old spent five years after coming to England in 2010 to further his coaching career.

“He’s someone I believe in, someone I believe will be a fantastic coach and will bring something innovative to our set-up.”

Nathan Jones

Gomez was one of the youngest men in Spain to gain his UEFA Pro Licence coaching qualification at the age of 24, and was assistant-manager at fifth-tier club C.P. Parla Escuela in Madrid before joining the Seagulls.

He worked his way from being a youth development coach in the Albion Academy become first team performance coach under previous boss Oscar Garcia in 2013.

The following campaign Gomez became first-team coach under Sami Hyppia, with Jones as assistant-manager, before leaving at the end of the 2014-15 season to join Derby.

Gomez told the club’s official website: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Derby, working under Paul Clement and Darren Wassall last year and in recent weeks with Nigel Pearson and Chris Powell.

“They’ve been great with me and I was very happy to stay, but when Nathan gave me the call, I couldn’t say no.

“Coaching is my passion and both Nigel and Chris recognise that and told me it was an opportunity I had to take.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to work with Nathan again now. I watched the game against Brighton on Saturday and I can’t wait to get started, getting to know all the players and staff.

“I know Nathan has put a very good team together on and off the field. With the stadium plans and the announcement of the new training facility last week, it’s such an exciting time to be joining a great club like Luton Town.”

Meanwhile, Jones added: “I’m delighted Joaquin has been able to join us. He’s someone I worked with at Brighton and he’s a fantastic individual coach.

“He’s different from other coaches I know, so he’ll give us another dimension in our coaching, our analysis and everything we do.

“It’s a real coup for the club because he was well thought of at Derby. He was their head of tactical analysis, so he prepared all their opposition stuff, watched all their games and reported back to the manager.

“He’s someone I believe in, someone I believe will be a fantastic coach and will bring something innovative to our set-up.”